SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded Fiscal Year 2002 Educate and Automate "Back to Basics" grants to nearly 500 Illinois libraries for essential equipment purchases.
White said 483 libraries will share more than $460,000 in "Back to Basics" grants. Grants of between $100 and $1,000 were awarded for libraries to purchase one or a combination of the following equipment: an answering machine, a copy machine, a whiteboard, a computer, a fax machine, a telephone, an ink jet printer, and a microform reader/printer. Libraries may provide local funds for any purchase over $1,000. Libraries that already own such equipment may use the grants for replacements, enhancements or upgrades.
"I am committed to making sure Illinois libraries have the most current equipment necessary to meet the needs of their patrons," White said. "Many of our libraries on fixed budgets simply do not have the financial resources to make such purchases, or they are using out of date equipment that needs to be upgraded. As our patrons become more technologically skilled, it is imperative that our libraries have the resources to meet those advanced needs. Citizens depend on their library for a host of educational, informational and entertainment needs, and these grants will allow libraries to purchase new equipment and make upgrades to meet the demands of library users.
"As State Librarian I am delighted to be able to provide our library systems and our academic, public, school and special libraries with an assortment of grants that allow them to keep the citizens of Illinois well-informed, better educated and more enlightened."
The state-funded Educate and Automate grant program was begun in 1997 and provides about $4 million each year to all types of libraries to improve technology and provide the most up-to-date computers and networking equipment. The program also provides $1 million annually for family literacy programs.
List of the libraries receiving Back to Basics grants
